A new political debate has erupted in Slovenia over the country’s future within Western institutions. Zoran Stevanović, who assumed the office of Speaker of the National Assembly on April 10, 2026, announced plans to hold a referendum on Slovenia’s withdrawal from NATO. The declaration has caused considerable concern, as it comes from one of the most important figures in the state just days after the new parliament was constituted.
According to media reports, Stevanović argued that Slovenia should pursue an “independent and sovereign” foreign policy focused above all on its own national interest. He stated that his political camp intends to fulfill its campaign promise and bring about a referendum on leaving the North Atlantic Alliance. In the same vein, he stressed that Ljubljana should not become involved in foreign military or diplomatic conflicts if such involvement brings no benefit to the country.
At the same time, Stevanović clearly distinguished NATO from the European Union. According to the reports, he does not plan a similar referendum on leaving the EU, believing that Slovenian society recognizes the substantial benefits of EU membership. The politician also announced his first foreign visits to Skopje and Copenhagen, while expressing a desire to travel to Moscow as well, explaining that he wants to “build bridges” between East and West.
The announcement is particularly significant because Slovenia has been a member of both key Western structures for more than two decades. It joined NATO on March 29, 2004, and became a member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. On official government websites, Slovenia’s NATO membership is presented as one of the fundamental pillars of the country’s security, while EU institutions list Slovenia as a full member since the major enlargement of 2004.
For now, however, it would be premature to speak of a definitive geopolitical shift. Stevanović’s statements should currently be interpreted above all as a strong political signal and an attempt to shape the debate on Slovenian sovereignty, relations with the West, and the country’s place in the European security architecture. If the issue of a referendum does indeed enter the mainstream of Slovenian politics, it could become one of the most serious tests of the country’s internal cohesion since its accession to NATO and the EU. The office of Speaker of Parliament is one of the most important in Slovenia’s political system, which only adds weight to the declaration.
